The Week in Focus 21st to 27th May 2016

Although the period was largely dry, winds from the north-west produced some rain on Saturday, followed by a sunny and relatively warm Sunday, after which it became cooler as north-easterlies set in. In comparison with the previous review period this last week has been rather slow in terms of new arrivals. Ospreys at three sites and a couple of Sanderlings appeared to be the highlights – the migration tap not having been completely turned off but simply left dripping …

The injured Ruddy Shelduck remained at Pitsford Res, where it was present in the vicinity of the sailing club and the drake Garganey at Stanwick GP was seen again on 23rd. Another Quail was heard at Harrington AF on 22nd and then it was straight into raptors but, with nothing as glam as a Lam to look at, a handful of local birders connected with Ospreys at Stanwick GP on 22nd, at Hollowell Res on 22nd and 24th-25th and at/near Naseby Res on 24th/26th.

Osprey, Hollowell Res, 24th May 2016 (Martin Swannell)

This week’s only Peregrine was an adult at Earls Barton GP on 26th but it’s also worth flagging up that a Barbary Falcon x Gyrfalcon hybrid escaped from an owner at Wellingborough on 23rd and is still on the loose …

Peregrine, Earls Barton GP, 26th May 2016 (Alan Coles)

Little Ringed Plovers were reported only from Stanwick GP and Summer Leys, with both sites also producing single Ringed Plovers on 26th and 27th respectively while a Sanderling accompanied the Stanwick individual. More readily accessible and obligingly showy was a Sanderling on the dam at Pitsford Res on 22nd, providing excellent photo opportunities for those who saw it.

Sanderling, Pitsford Res, 22nd May 2016 (Stuart Mundy)

Sanderling, Pitsford Res, 22nd May 2016 (Angus Molyneux)

Sanderling, Pitsford Res, 22nd May 2016 (Adrian Borley)

There was just one Dunlin this week, at Summer Leys on 27th, but one which didn’t make it into the last round-up is worth a mention for the locality alone – Shelfley’s Lake, West Hunsbury on 15th May – an odd record for suburban Northampton and surely a first for this tiny, mainly tree-lined site. The only other waders this week were the three to four Redshanks present at Summer Leys throughout.

Dunlin, Shelfleys Lake, West Hunsbury, Northampton, 15th May 2016 (Bob Ansell)

There was no improvement in the Turtle Dove situation during the period with the two still near Newton Bromswold on 19th and two at Harrington AF on 22nd and 26th, while the latter site produced a late Northern Wheatear on the first of these two dates.